As per the regulations framed under the Indian Medical Council Act-1956 as amended in 2016 and the Dentists Act-1948 as amended in 2016, NATIONAL ELIGIBILITY CUM ENTRANCE TEST (UG) – 2017 [NEET(UG)-2017] will be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), for admission to MBBS/BDS Courses in India in Medical/Dental Colleges run with the approval of Medical Council of India/Dental Council of India under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India except for the institutions established through an Act of Parliament e.g. AIIMS and JIPMER Puducherry.

The Supreme Court today has allowed medical aspirants above 25 years to sit for this year’s National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The NEET (UG)-2017 will be conducted on Sunday, the 7th May, 2017.

The Court has directed the CBSE to open the online portal from today evening so that all petitioners and non-petitioners can apply for the entrance exam. The last date to fill the online application is by April 5.

CBSE released the NEET 2017 notification where it introduced age and attempt cap. While it made NEET 2017 as the first attempt after the protest from students, the government stood firm on fixing maximum age to be 25 years.

Hearing the petitions regarding removal of age criteria introduced this year, the apex court has further the hearing to July.

“A lot of students from rural background will badly suffer if the government doesn’t change the criteria. Our nation is already facing shortage of doctors. Fixing such criteria will discourage medical aspirants.”said Activist Dr Anand Rai, who is supporting the students.